The Masked Butler: The Pit and the Pendulum

Secret of the Catacombs

Nico and Erik had followed Francis to his room. He ushered them in and closed the door after them.

He ran his fingers through his hair and let out a huff. "I, I feel bad for having dragged you into all of these, and for my relentless suspicions of Don Medina." He glanced down. "I am so stupid."

"You've made a bad decision, that's all, sir," said Erik.

"I should apologise to our gracious hosts as well. I understand now that it was really a big mistake, and a big misunderstanding on my part." He let out a huff before shooting Nico a side grin. "I paid you to come along to solve the mystery and I tried solving it myself. I should have listened to your better judgement, cousin."

Nico crossed his arms. "You think?" Erik snorted while Francis shot him an apologetic smile.

"Yes, yes, I know, I know, I-"

"No, you don't know. Here I was thinking I would enjoy solving this mystery, and yet you practically snatched the whole investigation away from me, despite paying me to come do it because you were aware that your shortcomings could merely add the clues to your bias. Clearly your shortcomings were more useful to you than my expertise. And now you've thrust upon your brother-in-law the very guilt you were so quick to accuse him of."

"No, not the very guilt," muttered Francis. "I accused him of deliberately murdering Elizabeth. Now he lives with one worse, the accidental killing of his own beloved wife."

"Which wasn't entirely his fault," said Erik. "Dr. Leon takes some of the blame as well for he truly believed she was dead." A memory came crashing into Nico brain, that of when Dr. Leon talked to Nicholas right after they opened the coffin. Something was off. There was still a mystery here, wasn't there.

"Yes, but I don't think it relieves my brother-in-law, any more than it does me. I should go apologise to the Medinas for my stubbornness and rashness. I would like to leave in the morning after breakfast, if that's alright with you."

Nico thought quickly. If there was still a mystery here, he had less than twenty-four hours to solve it. He couldn't make Francis stay any longer, and once Francis was gone, he had no reason to give to stay longer either. That meant an all-nighter. He was not satisfied with the answer that Nicholas had himself been the cause of the inexplicable occurrences. Some things were just not adding up, and Nico didn't like it one bit. He merely shrugged. "It's up to you, you're the boss."

Francis nodded and huffed. "Well, I see no reason to stay. If you'll excuse me, I'll go make the necessary arrangements and . . . the more than necessary amends."

Nico gave a curt nod. "Of course." Francis tipped his head and left the room. As soon as Francis's footsteps disappeared into the corridor, Nico walked briskly towards his luggage.

"My lord?" asked Erik.

Nico began pulling out a suit and began changing. "I want to know where the trap door is in the sitting room. And I'll take all night if I have to to find it."

"You also don't accept the solution everyone seems to have agreed upon," said Erik.

Nico shook his head. "No, there's something else going on here, Erik, and I aim to find out. No real detective leaves a mystery unsolved, and no clue unfollowed."

"How will you get in there?" asked Erik.

"Shadow-travel, obviously."

"But if someone is in there when you step out of the shadows? Or, worse yet, someone enters the room when you are still looking?"

Nico huffed as he pulled on his jacket. "Pfft, I can wrap the shadows around me easily, Erik. I've gotten better at that."

Erik cleared his throat. "What if we laid a trap?"